Eli5: how can a 14-15 hours flight trip can make you feel jet lagged but even a long 20 hours train journey doesn’t have the same effect?

Question

Is it because typically during these long flights there is a a change in multiple time zones and that messes your circadian rythm?

In: 541

Answer 1

Many answers have mentioned time zone change, but another factor to consider is the pressure and humidity during the prolonged period an airplane.

In a typical passenger aircraft, the air is very dry and the air pressure makes it feel like you’re sitting at around 8000 feet elevation for most of the trip. (Newer aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 do a bit better on both of these.)

That will have an effect on how you feel, especially after several hours.